Multiple spectrum marker and light assembly for vehicles

Abstract

A multiple spectrum marker and light assembly for vehicles that is adapted to be mounted to the vehicle and configured to emit a visible light signal and a non-visible light signal. The visible light signal is generated from the vehicle's standard visible light bulbs. The non-visible light signal can be generated from an infrared, near-infrared light, an ultraviolet light or a radio signal and used when lights out driving conditions are desired or necessary. The non-visible light signal can also transmit a coded data signal that comprises information about the vehicle and its driver. In the preferred embodiment, both the front and rear vehicle lighting systems incorporate the multiple spectrum assembly of the present invention and the driver can selectively, except for the coded data signal, utilize the visible light source or the non-visible light source. The coded data signal can be used to assist law enforcement personnel.

1 . A multiple spectrum assembly for a vehicle, said multiple spectrum assembly comprising: 
 a visible light spectrum source coupled to the vehicle and configured to emit visible light from the vehicle;    a non-visible light spectrum source coupled to the vehicle and configured to emit non-visible light from the vehicle, said non-visible light spectrum source in cooperative arrangement with said visible light spectrum source; and    a switching system in electrical communication with said visible light spectrum source and said non-visible light spectrum source to allow selective engagement of said visible light spectrum source and/or said non-visible light spectrum source.    
   
   
       2 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle has a front end and opposite facing a back end, said front end of the vehicle having a front lighting system and said back end of the vehicle having a rear lighting system, said front lighting system configured to provide forward projecting illumination from said multiple spectrum assembly positioned at said front end of the vehicle, said rear lighting system configured to provide rearward projecting illumination from said multiple spectrum assembly positioned at said back end of the vehicle.  
   
   
       3 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said front lighting system is electrically connected to a battery of the vehicle and said rear lighting system is electrically connected to said battery and operatively connected to a braking system of the vehicle.  
   
   
       4 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said multiple spectrum assembly of said rear lighting system is configured to selectively display visible light or non-visible light as a result of the operation of said braking system.  
   
   
       5 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said non-visible light spectrum source comprises an infrared light, a near-infrared light, an ultraviolet light or a radio signal.  
   
   
       6 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said non-visible light spectrum source further comprises a coded data signal containing vehicle information.  
   
   
       7 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein said coded data signal is emitted from said non-visible light spectrum source independently of said switching system.  
   
   
       8 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said visible light spectrum source has one or more visible light bulbs and said non-visible light spectrum source has one or more non-visible light bulbs.  
   
   
       9 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said visible light spectrum source and said non-visible light spectrum source are mounted to a light assembly backing plate.  
   
   
       10 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said non-visible light spectrum source comprises an infrared light, a near-infrared light, an ultraviolet light or a radio signal.  
   
   
       11 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said non-visible light spectrum source further comprises a coded data signal containing vehicle information.  
   
   
       12 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said coded data signal is emitted from said non-visible light spectrum source independently of said switching system.  
   
   
       13 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle has a plurality of multiple spectrum assemblies, each of said plurality of multiple spectrum assemblies comprising a pair of said visible light spectrum source and said non-visible light spectrum source.  
   
   
       14 . A multiple spectrum assembly for a vehicle, said multiple spectrum assembly comprising: 
 a visible light spectrum source coupled to the vehicle and configured to emit visible light from the vehicle; and    a non-visible light spectrum source coupled to the vehicle and configured to emit non-visible light and/or a coded data signal from the vehicle, said non-visible light spectrum source in cooperative arrangement with said visible light spectrum source, said coded data signal comprising vehicle information.    
   
   
       15 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 14  further comprising a switching system in electrical communication with said visible light spectrum source and said non-visible light spectrum source to allow selective engagement of said visible light spectrum source and/or said non-visible light spectrum source.  
   
   
       16 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein said coded data signal is not controlled by said switching system so that the vehicle transmits said coded data signal whenever the vehicle is in use.  
   
   
       17 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the non-visible light is emitted from said visible light spectrum source comprising an infrared light, a near-infrared light, an ultraviolet light or a radio signal.  
   
   
       18 . A system for providing illumination from a vehicle, said system comprising: 
 a front lighting system having one or more front multiple spectrum assemblies mounted to a front end of the vehicle, each of said one or more front multiple spectrum assemblies having a visible light spectrum source and a non-visible light spectrum source in cooperative arrangement with said visible light spectrum source, said visible light spectrum source configured to emit visible light from said front end of the vehicle and said non-visible light spectrum configured to emit non-visible light from said front end of the vehicle;    a rear lighting system having one or more back multiple spectrum assemblies mounted to a back end of the vehicle, each of said one or more back multiple spectrum assemblies having a visible light spectrum source and a non-visible light spectrum source in cooperative arrangement with said visible light spectrum source, said visible light spectrum source configured to emit visible light from said back end of the vehicle and said non-visible light spectrum configured to emit non-visible light from said back end of the vehicle; and    a switching system in electrical communication with said front lighting system and said rear lighting system to allow selective engagement of said one or more front multiple spectrum assemblies and said one or more rear multiple spectrum assemblies to selectively activate said visible light spectrum sources and/or said non-visible light spectrum sources.    
   
   
       19 . The vehicle illumination system according to  claim 18 , wherein said rear lighting system is operatively connected to a braking system of the vehicle and configured to selectively display visible light or non-visible light as a result of the operation of said braking system.  
   
   
       20 . The vehicle illumination system according to  claim 19 , wherein said non-visible light spectrum source comprises an infrared light, a near-infrared light, an ultraviolet light or a radio signal.  
   
   
       21 . The vehicle illumination system according to  claim 20 , wherein said non-visible light spectrum source further comprises a coded data signal containing vehicle information.  
   
   
       22 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein said coded data signal is emitted from said non-visible light spectrum source independently of said switching system.  
   
   
       23 . The vehicle illumination system according to  claim 18 , wherein said non-visible light spectrum source comprise an infrared light, a near-infrared light, an ultraviolet light and/or a radio signal.  
   
   
       24 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said non-visible light spectrum source comprises a coded data signal containing vehicle information.  
   
   
       25 . The multiple spectrum assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein said coded data signal is emitted from said non-visible light spectrum source independently of said switching system.  
   
   
       26 . The vehicle illumination system according to  claim 18 , wherein a pair of said visible light spectrum source and said non-visible light spectrum source are mounted to a light assembly backing plate.